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Unlock the Power of IBM i at POWERUp 2026!

Join us in New Orleans, Louisiana for POWERUp 2026, the premier conference for IBM i professionals. Whether you’re an experienced expert or just starting your IBM i journey, this event offers unparalleled education, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Stay ahead of the curve with insights from industry leaders, explore the latest innovations, and connect with a thriving community that shares your passion for IBM i. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, grow your skills, and power up your career!

Venue: Galerie 5 clear filter
Monday, April 27
 

10:00am CDT

DS8000 Enterprise Storage Product Overview
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
This session provides a focused overview of the DS8000 Enterprise storage server and dives into details of the recently released functionality.  Attendees will gain practical insight into how these updates improve security, performance, and operational efficiency.
Speakers
avatar for Clint Hardy

Clint Hardy

Senior Technical Staff Member, DS8000 Storage Architecture and Development, IBM
Monday April 27, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Galerie 5

11:15am CDT

IBM i in 2026 - Collaborative Strategy in the Era of AI
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
The pace of change and innovation is accelerating with the advent of AI. IBM i, as an integrated solution platform, has a strong strategy and roadmap for the future. In this session, Steve Will, IBM i CTO and Chief Architect will partner with Kris Whitney, IBM i Chief Engineer, to explain the strategy, show the roadmap, and highlight the ways in which IBM collaborates with the IBM i community to set the direction of the platform.
Speakers
avatar for Steve Will

Steve Will

IBM i CTO & Chief Architect, IBM

avatar for Kris Whitney

Kris Whitney

IBM
Kris Whitney is a Senior Technical Staff Member at IBM Rochester. He is currently the IBM i Chief Engineer
Monday April 27, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm CDT
Galerie 5

3:15pm CDT

How to Make the Most Out of Advisory Connect and Expert Labs Assets in IBM i Subscription Bundles
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Organizations running IBM i environments are increasingly looking for ways to accelerate modernization, strengthen resilience, and maximize the value of their platform investments. IBM i subscription bundles include valuable services such as Advisory Connect and IBM Expert Labs assets, but many clients are not fully aware of how to take advantage of them. In this session, you will learn how to unlock the full value of these resources and incorporate them into your IT strategy. We will explore how Advisory Connect provides direct access to IBM experts for guidance on architecture, modernization, security, and operational best practices, while Expert Labs assets can help accelerate implementation, troubleshooting, and optimization projects. Join us to understand what services are available within IBM i subscription bundles, how to engage with these resources effectively, and practical examples of how organizations are using them to drive faster outcomes and stronger platform value.
Speakers
avatar for Eric Barsness

Eric Barsness

Global Resiliency Practice Leader, IBM
Eric Barsness is theGlobal Resiliency Practice Leader for IBM i in Expert Labs and an IBM Master Inventor. Eric specializes in IBM i resiliency, performance and scalability and has led various IBM i performance teams for most of his career. Eric has been improving customer's IBM i... Read More →
avatar for Yan Zhuo

Yan Zhuo

IBM i Product Management Leader, IBM
Monday April 27, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 5

4:30pm CDT

Best Practices for Collecting IBM i Performance Data
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
IBM i performance data collection using Collection Services is enabled by default, but you may still be using default configuration settings. In this session, you will learn why you may want to adjust the Collection Services configuration settings for your performance analysis or trending needs.
Learning objectives:
1. How to use Navigator for i to configure Collection Services 
2. Recommendations for changing default configuration settings
Speakers
avatar for Shauna Rollings

Shauna Rollings

Senior Software Engineer - IBM i Performance Tools & High Availability Development, IBM
Shauna joined the IBM i development team in 2008. She has developed and supported IBM i performance data collector tools throughout her entire IBM career. From the very beginning of the Db2 Mirror for i project, she has also been the technical team lead for the Db2 Mirror Configuration... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 5

5:05pm CDT

SQL Services save the day at Heartland Co-op
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
By now, many of us are familiar with IBM SQL Services and how they can super-charge system management tasks.  But have you thought about how these powerful tools can be used in business applications?  This case study will take you through how SQL services were used to make a business-critical application at Heartland Co-op available 24/7 while allowing an important nightly batch process to run uninterrupted.  
Speakers
avatar for Todd Stewart

Todd Stewart

Application Architect, Heartland Co-op
Todd has worked in IBM midrange computing since 1989, developing applications from the System/34 to IBM i on Power. He has held roles including Developer, Analyst, Project Lead, Solutions Delivery Manager, and Application Development Director in the retail, and bonding/insurance industries... Read More →
Monday April 27, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 5
 
Tuesday, April 28
 

8:00am CDT

Navigator for i, The tools within!
Tuesday April 28, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
As an IBM i administrator you’ve either used Navigator for I, or you’re living under an AS/400! While you’re getting this done though, you’ve likely missed many of the capabilities built into Navigator to make your job easier and a better fit for your specific needs and environment. In this session, Tim and Larry will go beyond the basic capabilities of Navigator and show you the buttons and the options and capabilities that are built into Navigator for I that turbocharge the capabilities of Navigator for i. Come for the Ooh’s and the Ah’s !!

Learning Objectives:

Learn how to be more effective when utilizing Nav4i.
Speakers
avatar for Larry Bolhuis

Larry Bolhuis

Principal IBM Power Systems Architect, Service Express
Larry has grown up with computers since his father became a CE in 1967. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Calvin College in 1982.After 2 years working with early PCs and servers her began working on IBM midrange equipment with the S/34 and S/36 He moved to AS/400 at its introduction In 1988. Early in his career he was a developer, then migrated to networking, system design, upgrades and general systems... Read More →
avatar for Tim Rowe

Tim Rowe

STSM - IBM i Business Architect, IBM USA
Tim Rowe is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Architect for Application Development and Systems Management. He has been working on the IBM i operating system since 1989. Tim is a frequent author, industry speaker and... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Galerie 5

9:15am CDT

Wizardry & Security: Using Navigator for i to Manage TLS and Certificates
Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
In today’s evolving threat landscape, securing your IBM i environment is no longer optional—it’s essential. Unencrypted sessions invite credential theft and often violate compliance standards. This session will guide you through practical, step-by-step strategies to secure your IBM i using TLS encryption, with a special focus on the powerful capabilities of Navigator for i. We’ll also explore the latest administrative enhancements in Navigator for i, including new wizards and interfaces that simplify day-to-day tasks and help you lock down your system with confidence. Bonus: See how to use the Navigator TLS Wizard to lock down non-secure host servers in IBM i 7.6. Whether your goal is compliance, modernization, or simply better security hygiene, this session will equip you with the tools and knowledge to do it right. Learning objectives: ⚙️ Configure TLS across IBM i servers to protect data in transit. ️Update Access Client Solutions (ACS) configurations to be secure. ➕ Create and manage digital certificates, including using IBM i as a Certificate Authority (CA) or integrating with trusted third-party CAs. Secure Navigator for i using self-signed certificates to ensure your administrative interfaces are protected.

Learning Objectives:

⚙️ Configure TLS across IBM i servers to protect data in transit. ️Update Access Client Solutions (ACS) configurations to be secure. ➕ Create and manage digital certificates, including using IBM i as a Certificate Authority (CA) or integrating with trusted third-party CAs. Secure Navigator for i using self-signed certificates to ensure your administrative interfaces are protected.
Speakers
avatar for Ann Wilkerson

Ann Wilkerson

Software Developer, IBM
Ann Wilkerson is a lead user interface developer in IBM i. She joined the Rochester lab in 2021 and has since worked on Navigator, IBM i Services, and IBM i Migrate While Active. Her focus areas include security, networking, and the IFS.
avatar for Amy Williams

Amy Williams

Principal Security Consultant, Fortra LLC
Amy Williams is a Principal Security Services Consultant at Fortra, where she has worked since 2015. She holds CISSP, CISA, and PCI-P certifications and has nearly 30 years of experience on the IBM i platform across system administration, architecture, and application security in... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 5

10:45am CDT

Code to Clarity: AI You Can Trust in Production
Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
AI for IBM i is everywhere - AI you can trust in production is rare. IBM i teams don’t struggle because they can’t run analyzers or generate diagrams; they struggle because critical logic is scattered across code, data, and workflows - and “best‑guess” answers create validation loops, rework, and surprise blockers. This becomes even more visible as teams start introducing AI-generated code: without shared context and evidence, speed quickly turns into uncertainty. In this session, we’ll share a practical framework for trustworthy AI outcomes on long‑running systems - grounding, completeness, and traceability - and how to apply it without refactoring or disrupting existing workflows. We’ll also show how teams can use system-level understanding to validate and preserve knowledge as new (human- or AI-generated) changes enter production. The session closes with a live walkthrough of real IBM i questions to show what “good answers” look like in practice.
Speakers
JS

Josef Schiefer

Product Lead
RM

Robert Moratti

VP Sales North America

Tuesday April 28, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Galerie 5

3:15pm CDT

IBM Bob: A Day in the Life of an IBM I Developer
Tuesday April 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Ann and Ryan are both developers in the IBM i development lab. They both have access to IBM Bob and have been exploring ways to leverage AI development assistance as a part of their daily development activities. Ann and Ryan will share areas of success and even things that did not work well. This session is intended to help you gain insight into how IBM Bob can be a valuable development partner.

Speakers
avatar for Ryan Moeller

Ryan Moeller

Software Engineer, IBM
Ryan Moeller is a software engineer working on Db2 for i, specifically on the SQL Query Engine (SQE) team. He joined the team in the Rochester, MN development lab in 2020. Ryan specializes in SQL, database development, and query performance analysis.
avatar for Ann Wilkerson

Ann Wilkerson

Software Developer, IBM
Ann Wilkerson is a lead user interface developer in IBM i. She joined the Rochester lab in 2021 and has since worked on Navigator, IBM i Services, and IBM i Migrate While Active. Her focus areas include security, networking, and the IFS.
Tuesday April 28, 2026 3:15pm - 4:15pm CDT
Galerie 5

4:30pm CDT

License Management with Navigator for i
Tuesday April 28, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
With the transition from perpetual to subscription-based licensing, system administrators must stay informed about license expiration dates. Navigator for i has introduced several interface enhancements that make it easier to identify when operating system and other licenses are nearing expiration. In this session, we’ll showcase these improvements through a live demo, helping you stay ahead of license management challenges.

Learning Objectives:

`- Understand the impact of subscription-based licensing on IBM i systems and the importance of monitoring license expiration - Explore the Navigator for i interface enhancements that help identify and manage expiring licenses
Speakers
avatar for Ann Wilkerson

Ann Wilkerson

Software Developer, IBM
Ann Wilkerson is a lead user interface developer in IBM i. She joined the Rochester lab in 2021 and has since worked on Navigator, IBM i Services, and IBM i Migrate While Active. Her focus areas include security, networking, and the IFS.
Tuesday April 28, 2026 4:30pm - 4:50pm CDT
Galerie 5

5:05pm CDT

Extend the Integrated File System by Writing Your Own!
Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Do you want a file system that writes and reads data from the cloud? Are you unhappy with the currently provided file systems on the IBM i? Well, now you can your own file systems! Attend this presentation to learn about the newest addition to the IBM i integrated file system (IFS): the User-Written File System (UWFS). This will give you the ability to write your own file systems with their own tailored semantics, usable through standard IFS interfaces.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand what the UWFS is and where it fits in with the other file systems. 2. Understand what it takes to write your own UWFS. 3. See a demonstration of a UWFS in action.
Speakers
avatar for Justin Nelson

Justin Nelson

Advisory Software Engineer, IBM
Justin Nelson is a software developer within IBM i development. He has worked on the IBM i since joining IBM in 2015. He is a member of the integrated file system & servers (IFS) team and specializes in the Network Client File System (QNTC), host servers, and Network Authentication... Read More →
Tuesday April 28, 2026 5:05pm - 5:25pm CDT
Galerie 5
 
Wednesday, April 29
 

8:00am CDT

Getting Started VS Code and IBM i Workshop
Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 10:15am CDT
Dive into VS Code and CODE for IBM i / DB2 extensions with this perfect starter Lab. Many RPG developers are unfamiliar with VS Code, and beginning with this IDE can feel daunting. This lab offers a introduction to both VS Code and the Code for IBM i / DB2 development environment. To Participate the attendee MUST BRING A LAPTOP! The attendee will receive access to an IBM i system to engage in lab tasks. By the end of the lab: The basics of VS Code. Installing and VS Code extensions Navigating the Code for IBM i development environment.

Learning Objectives:

Overview of VS Code Introduction to the VS Code IDE Installing IBM i extensions Connecting to the IBM i system Editing and compiling modules, service programs and creating runnable RPG objects Running and Debugging a program Using SQL DB2 in VS code
Speakers
avatar for Michelle Lyons

Michelle Lyons

COO, imPower Technologies


avatar for Jim Buck

Jim Buck

CEO & Head Instructor, imPower Technologies

Jim Buck’s career in IT has spanned more than 35+ years, primarily in college education, manufacturing, and healthcare industries. Past president (13 years) of the Wisconsin Midrange Computer Professional Association (www.wmcpa.org) and has served on several teams developing IBM... Read More →
Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 5

10:45am CDT

How Should You Maintain Your IBM Platform To Get the Optimal Value for Your Business Needs?
Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Who today is helping you optimize your infrastructure? Do you have the right set-up for zero planned downtime and autonomous error resolution? How about fast visibility to any missing patches or upgrades on your inventory?
Come in for a discussion with Technology lifecycle support on what you can get from IBM maintenance. We will touch on the value you obtain through expert care, a technical account manager or the occasional health check of your inventory. We will also talk about the lifecycle of your inventory, what are the risks connected to having old inventory and how can IBM help mitigate those risks.
Lastly the transition to subscription for all IBM i user are here, so how do we embrace it in the best manner? There are lot’s of details and fine print to consider in this transition, and we know that several of you are asking for support from IBM in this transition. Technology lifecycle support offers help and has several proposals to you - and at the same time would like to engage in a discussion with you to understand more about the challenges. Come join the discussion with our IBM i specialists to get good ideas, pointers and give your own input. 

Speakers
avatar for Lisa Stampe

Lisa Stampe

Leader of Power Support Product Management, IBM
avatar for Radovan Gaher

Radovan Gaher

Premium and Software Lead, Power Support Product Management, IBM
Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Galerie 5

3:45pm CDT

Improving Software Quality via Development and Testing
Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Every programmer wants to do the best job. How do you test your program and ensure that you aren't missing anything? From the simplest bug fix to large complex projects, there are key concepts that you can use to ensure that your program is properly tested. This session is co-presented by expert developer, Scott Klement, and expert tester, Yvonne Enselman so that you can see things from both a developer and tester's perspective.

Learning Objectives:

1. What are the key points in the development process where testing should be considered? 2. How developers can identify the need for support from a tester or project manager 3. How to minimize risk from software errors.
Speakers
avatar for Yvonne Enselman

Yvonne Enselman

Owner, Yvonne Enselman Professional Services
avatar for Scott Klement

Scott Klement

Managing Partner, ORC LLC
Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Galerie 5

5:00pm CDT

How Refactoring Helps Bulletproof Your Application
Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Do you (or does your manager) doubt the value of refactoring your code into a modular design? This session goes in-depth about how you save time and create higher quality programs by refactoring into small, independent routines. We will discuss how this improves your ability to test and maintain your application over time, saving you tons of time in the long run. This session is co-presented by expert developer, Scott Klement, and expert tester, Yvonne Enselman to help you see it from both perspectives.

Learning Objectives:

1. How refactoring into a modular design saves you time in maintenance. 2. How refactoring into a modular designed simplifies and expedites the testing process.
Speakers
avatar for Yvonne Enselman

Yvonne Enselman

Owner, Yvonne Enselman Professional Services
avatar for Scott Klement

Scott Klement

Managing Partner, ORC LLC
Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Galerie 5
 
Thursday, April 30
 

8:00am CDT

IBM FlashSystem Deep Dive
Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
This session will cover the latest announcements on IBM Storage FlashSystem products including advancements in Storage Insights, FlashSystems Grid, Ransomware Threat Detection, and Power Cyber Vault.
Speakers
YS

Yves Santos

STSM IBM Storage Development, IBM
Thursday April 30, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Galerie 5

9:15am CDT

i Test, Therefore i Build
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
With IBM's release of the IBM i Testing VS Code extension, Unit Testing is (finally) hot and happening on the i, everything at the engineer’s finger tips, including code coverage. In this session we will show you how to take these unit tests to the next level, how to embed them in your DevOps cycle, in your pipeline – making them not only crucial to the engineer’s code quality, but also running them as automated security policy every time your product is built.

Learning Objectives:

Mastering unit test basics Showing how their value grows exponentially when run as part of your CICD pipelines. Learn how IBM i unit tests and tests from other platforms can be seamlessly combined to have a 360 view Learn how Unit tests and automated regression tests can come together for a holistic view on code and product quality See how AI can help predict future failures
Speakers
avatar for Andrew Clark

Andrew Clark

Andrew Clark is the Senior Principal Software Engineer for IBM i at Rocket Software.  Andrew has over 35 years of experience on IBM i beginning with the "secret Mankato Project" on a pre-release version of OS/400, and an internship at IBM Rochester working on the Query team.  He... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 5

10:45am CDT

Options for Consuming REST APIs from RPG
Thursday April 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
REST APIs have become a major part of business programming. We live in a world where virtually everything is connected to the Internet, and REST APIs are how they communicate with each other. In this session, you will learn how to call (or "consume") REST APIs from good ol' RPG. In addition to showing you the basics of how APIs work, this session explains how to use several free tools to consume them. The tools will be compared so that you can determine which one would work best for you.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the free tools available to consume APIs. 2. Understand how to process JSON documents in RPG. 3. Compare the free methods for consuming APIs
Speakers
avatar for Scott Klement

Scott Klement

Managing Partner, ORC LLC
Thursday April 30, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Galerie 5

1:00pm CDT

Why and How to read a Job Log
Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
When a job runs on IBM i it generates various status messages. When things go 'bump' the job issues additional messages. Where do those messages appear? Most of them appear in the job log, making the job log the 'go to' for identifying issues or determining status of the job.  In this session we will review how to control the job log detail and disposition. We'll show you ways to read the job log. We'll also discuss the differences between active and completed jobs and give some thinking about dealing with a large number of job logs.

Learning Objectives:
Learn how to control joblogs, when they are produced and how much detail is provided.  Learn how to read the joblog and get the most detail.  Learn how to identify who or what answered an error message and when that was done.
Speakers
avatar for Larry Bolhuis

Larry Bolhuis

Principal IBM Power Systems Architect, Service Express
Larry has grown up with computers since his father became a CE in 1967. He obtained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Calvin College in 1982.After 2 years working with early PCs and servers her began working on IBM midrange equipment with the S/34 and S/36 He moved to AS/400 at its introduction In 1988. Early in his career he was a developer, then migrated to networking, system design, upgrades and general systems... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Galerie 5

3:00pm CDT

Using SQL to Overcome Challenges when Consuming XML (Case Study)
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
In the new world of mobile data collection by field specialists, we ran head-on into special characters as well as emojis. This case study tells the tale of overcoming the hurdles we were stumbling over to deal with them.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn what issues can be raised when using mobile devices to collect information from the field 2. Learn how XML support in Db2 for i was used to resolve these issues
Speakers
avatar for Vern Hamberg

Vern Hamberg

Senior iSeries Developer, OneMain Financial
Vern has worked on IBM midrange systems for over 35 years, beginning with the System/38 and AS/400. At present he is a Senior iSeries Developer at OneMain Financial. He serves on the Strategic Education Team (SET) of COMMON and is one of the SMEs for Db2. He is also honored to have... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Galerie 5

4:15pm CDT

Debugging IBM i from VS Code
Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT
Are you troubled when debugging from VS Code? Do you experience feelings of dread when starting the Debug Service? Have you or your coworkers actually been struggling to debug ILE from VS Code? If the answer is yes, then don't wait another minute. Just register for this webinar and get in touch with the professionals - Debuggerbusters !

Woops, wrong movie! But right topic!

It is time to learn how to properly debug ILE from VS Code - and believe it, it's not that hard once everything is set up correctly! So...who you gonna call? Seb Julliand! Seb has a long history (as in "love and hate relationship") of interfacing the IBM i Debug Service with Code for IBM i and knows quite a bit about it. From the architecture of the debugger to an actual live debugging session, Seb will take you on grand debugging tour:

- Prerequisites
- How it works
- Configure and start the debug service from iNavigator
- Common pitfalls
- How to debug a program call
- How to work with Service Entry Points
- Variables, Breakpoints, Confitions, Watch

Join this session to finally be comfortable when it comes to debbugging from your favorite IDE.

Ain't afraid of no questions!
Speakers
avatar for Sébastien Julliand

Sébastien Julliand

Tech Lead R&D, I AND ME - IT TRAINING
Hi, I'm Seb! I am the R&D Tech Lead for i and me - IT Training and Solutions GmbH and an active contributors to IBM i open source projects.

Let's talk about anything related to software development, on IBM i or not, it doesn't mater to me. RPGLE, Java, TypeScript...I love them all... Read More →
Thursday April 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:15pm CDT
Galerie 5
 

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